Neville draws in Spanish league debut with Valencia

“What I’m most anxious about is the attitude in that first half, in which the team wasn’t up to the level we want at any point”. Now, the Merengues go 5 points behind of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, as the teams approach the Christmas break and have only 1 more fixture before the festive day comes in. Bruno Soriano tackled Luka Modric to recover the ball and send it forward to Bakambu, who slid a pass over for Soldado to sweep between the legs of goalie Keylor Navas.

Real Madrid lost a golden opportunity to cut the distance with league-leaders FC Barcelona in La Liga, succumbing to a shock 0-1 defeat against Villarreal.

“Villarreal will put everything the team have shown in recent games to the test. It’s hard, but going there and getting the three points is a challenge and an incentive”.

Gareth Bale had made his Real Madrid debut against Villareal on 15th September 2013 in a 2-2 draw that saw the Welshman open his scoring his account with the equaliser to Cani’s opener.

Bale has only scored four goals and while he has suffered two injuries, doubts remain over his link-up play and understanding with his team mates.

He has netted 11 goals in six Champions League games, making him the first player to reach double figures in the group stage.

“We [expressed ourselves] a lot in the first half and got the goal”, he told television reporters. Madrid stormed forward pinning the home side back in their own half.

Real Madrid are still five points adrift of Barcelona but have a game in hand. The Villarreal defender was booked shortly after for a foul outside the area and Ramos risked a red hitting out a Soldado having already been booked.

But when he was asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at the Bernabeu, the current Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez, who took over from Ancelotti in the summer, insisted that everyone at the club, specifically Ronaldo, is extremely happy at the club.

Bale immediately got to the byline and won a corner but it came to nothing.

Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez has reiterated his support for troubled French striker Karim Benzema after he was indefinitely suspended from representing his country.